Before the cross-state N-92 of today, the early 1930's saw a much smaller version of N-92 in the northeast part of the state. This only lasted a few years, when N-92 was assigned to the ALT US-30 alignment to match up with Iowa Highway 92. The old alignment became N-16. (Map clip from a Conoco Oil Map of Nebraska from 1934.)

Pre-1927 Route

Decommissioned1927-1950

Decommissioned1950-1975

Decommissionedsince 1975

Current assignment

Name

Details

Alignment: South Dakota border (SD-73) north of Merriman to Kansas border (K-161) south of Benkelman

Distance: 234.82 miles

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with US-20 in Merriman (0.03 mile); with N-2 (through Hyannis, 1.71 miles); with N-92 (Arthur to 7 miles east of Lemoyne, 25.45 miles total); with US-26 (along the west side of Ogallala, 5.89 miles); with US-30 (along the south side of Ogallala, 2.8 miles); with N-23 (Grant 3.09 miles eastward); with US-6 (Imperial to 2 miles southeast of Enders, 9.58 miles total); and with US-34 (Benkelman 3 miles southward).

Intersecting Interstates: I-80 at Ogallala

Multi-Lane Segments: 2-mile bypass on west side of Ogallala

History and Notes: Designated in 1926, and originally extended from Arthur to Keystone to Martin, replacing N-18A. By 1933, the segment from Arthur southward went straight to Martin, with the old alignment becoming N-49; N-61 was also applied to a route north from Merriman and south from Martin to near the Kansas line. A slow expansion of the route between US-20 and N-2 began by 1961, and was completed by 1974.

N-61 goes through desolate western Cherry County, with a 67 mile span between towns. Actually, in its entire alignment, N-61 passes through 8 towns (north of I-80: Merriman, Hyannis, Arthur, and Ogallala; south of I-80: Grant, Imperial, Enders, Benkelman).

The segment between Merriman and Arthur wasn't signed until at least the 1950's.

History and Notes: In 1933, N-62 consisted of a segment from Shubert to Barada. After US-73 was rerouted around 1936, N-62 was extended west to US-73/75. The segment east of N-67 was dropped in the 1950's.

A second segment of N-62 was implemented by 1961, between N-50 and N-105.

History and Notes: Designated by 1933, N-64 originally only consisted of the US-81 to N-15 segment. By 1947, a second segment was added, between US-77 and US-275. By 1955, this second segment was extended west to Prague, replacing N-93. An extension eastward to Omaha (ending at 13th and Dodge) was done around 1961. By 1975, this was pulled back to the North Freeway (current US-75), and the western terminus of this section was pulled back to US-77.

N-64 was once part of a multi-state highway 64, which ran through Iowa and northern Illinois, ending in Chicago.

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with N-50 for 3.91 mile stretch north from Pawnee City; and with N-8 through Pawnee City (0.3 mile).

Gravel Segments: Pawnee City to Kansas border (7.46 miles)

History and Notes: Originally (around 1933), N-65 ran between N-4 and the Kansas line about 10 miles west of its current alignment. By 1936, it was extended north to 3 miles north of Burchard, then east to Table Rock. Around 1964, the north-south segment was realigned to extend south from Pawnee City; the old alignment became part of N-99, linking up with its counterpart in Kansas. The other terminus was rerouted away from Table Rock, but ended north of Burchard as before. Around 1971, the north terminus was rerouted to end at Table Rock; the east-west segment became part of N-4.

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with N-50 for 1.35 miles west from Louisville.

History and Notes: Segment 1 in place by 1934. By 1936, it had been extended east to N-76 (current N-69). Segment 2 was in place by 1947; a third segment, US-77 at Ceresco to Ashland, was also implemented by that time. This third segment was changed between 1955 and 1961 to extend from Ashland to Plattsmouth, absorbing what had been N-132. The first segment was pulled back to US-81 around 1961.

On October 24, 2005, Segment 3 absorbed the portion of N-63 that was located between US-77 and Ashland.

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with N-128 through Lorton (1 mile); with US-75 for 1 mile west of Peru; with US-136 for 2.6 miles west of Brownville

Gravel Segments: 10.32 miles, from US-34 to near Dunbar (N-2)

History and Notes: Implemented by 1934, this route originally started a few miles south of Julian (US-73/75), went east to Peru, then south to meet US-73 at Shubert. By 1936, the north end was extended west through Brock, then north to Dunbar (N-2). By 1947, the south segment was extended 7 miles to US-73, absorbing part of N-54. The northward extension to US-34 occurred by 1955.

History and Notes: Around 1977, this road was renumbered from its previous designation of N-76, presumably to avoid conflict with I-76.

Alignment: US-30 just southwest of Grand Island to US-281 just south of Grand Island

History and Notes: Designated around 1937, leading to Stolley State Park. This route was decommissioned between 1947 and 1955, and is now known locally as Stolley Park Road. The park itself appears to be a city park now.

Multiplexes: Shared alignment with US-183 near Westerville (1 mile); with N-11 for 0.86 miles at Ord; with N-91 for 13.59 miles, from west of Ericson to US-281; with US-281 for 7 miles either side of Bartlett.

History and Notes: Designated between 1955 and 1961, replacing N-80. Prior to that, it had been parts of N-91 and N-53.

History and Notes: This short road, connecting Haigler with the Kansas border a mile or so away, was unmarked for a long time, but is now a short segment of N-27. The N-71 designation was in place from around 1933 until at least 1955.

Alignment: South Dakota border (SD-71) near Ardmore, SD, to Colorado border (CO-71) south of Kimball

Distance: 165.95 miles

Multiplexes: South Dakota border to west of Hemingford (shared with N-2); with US-20 for 0.86 mile, west from Crawford; with N-88 for 4.06 miles, east of Harrisburg.

Intersecting Interstates: I-80 at Kimball

Multi-Lane Segments: US-26 east of Scottsbluff to just north of Kimball

NHS: Scottsbluff to Kimball

History and Notes: N-71 was designated around 1964, as part of a multi-state Highway 71 number shared with South Dakota and Colorado. Prior to this, the road was part of N-29 south of Scottsbluff, and part of N-87 between Scottsbluff and N-2.

The Scottsbluff-Gering Expressway is scheduled to open in October 2005. It reroutes N-71 along the east sides of Gering and Scottsbluff, a distance of about 6 miles.

The segment of N-71 from Scottsbluff to the Colorado border is part of the future "Heartland Expressway", which will link Denver with Rapid City, SD.

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with US-159 for 4.11 miles north from the Kansas line.

History and Notes: The US-73 alignment has had a long and varied history in Nebraska:

1922: The route was initially numbered as N-10. It was part of the "George Washington National Highway" and the "King of Trails Highway."

1926: US-73 implemented, renumbered from N-5, which had been in use for a few years. The north part of the route was several miles north of the current alignment. It went north to Shubert along current N-67, then west to Stella along current N-62. From there, it went north, then west through Howe to intesect the new US-75.

1935: US-73 was brought further south, to its current alignment and intersection with US-75 at Dawson. From there, it was multiplexed with US-75 north to Omaha. US-73 then split from US-75 and continued north to Tekamah along what is now part of US-75. At Tekamah, the route split into east and west segments. US-73E continued north, going through Decatur, to Winnebago. US-73W went west to Oakland via current N-32, then north to Winnebago via current US-75.

1957: The east/west legs from Tekamah to Winnebago were discontinued, and the old US-73E alignment became mainline US-73.

1984: US-73 was decommissioned in most of Nebraska, with the northern end back to the original terminus near Dawson.

History and Notes: US-73E (1935-1957) followed the current routing of US-75 between Winnebago and Tekamah. After suffixed US routes were eliminated in Nebraska, this became US-73. In 1984, US-75 was rerouted from its I-29 multiplex in Iowa to the US-73 alignment, and US-73 was eliminated north of Dawson (in far southeast Nebraska).

Intersecting Interstates: I-129 at South Sioux City; I-680, I-480, and I-80 in Omaha

Multiplexing: With I-129 and US-20 in South Sioux City (2.81 miles); with US-77 from South Sioux City to Winnebago (15.49 miles); with N-51 for 0.5 mile through Decatur; with US-30 through Blair (0.5 mile); with I-480 for 2.3 miles in Omaha; with US-34 from Plattsmouth to Union (13.07 miles); with N-67 north of Auburn (1.67 mile); with N-2 around Nebraska City (2.1 miles).

Freeway: South Sioux City (co-sign with I-129); Sorenson Parkway in Omaha to Offutt AFB in Bellevue

Multi-lane Segments: I-129 to just south of Dakota City; 5 miles north of I-680 to Sorenson Parkway in Omaha; Offutt AFB to just north of Plattsmouth; around Nebraska City

NHS: Omaha to Kansas border

Spurs and Alternates: Business US-75 through Nebraska City

History and Notes: Route shared the names "King of Trails Highway" and the "George Washington National Highway" in the 1920's. In the 1922 numbering system, this road used N-10 and N-11. It became N-5 a couple years later.

In 1926, the US-75 designation given to the segment of N-5 from Omaha to south of Auburn, and to old N-33 from there to the Kansas border. US-75 then went east into Council Bluffs, IA. This alignment stayed in place until 1985, when the segment of US-75 from Sioux City to Council Bluffs was moved from Iowa to Nebraska. Here, US-75 continued north along the recently decommissioned US-73 alignment to South Sioux City. US-75 then went back into Iowa via I-129.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2008 on extending the Kennedy Freeway south to Avenue B/Oak Hill Rd in Plattsmouth, a distance of about 6 miles.

History and Notes: Commissioned by 1934. Designation was changed around 1977, presumably to avoid conflict with I-76. The new designation was N-69 (between US-30 and US-34), and N-53 (between N-4 and US-136).

Intersecting Interstates: I-129 in South Sioux City; I-80 and I-180 in Lincoln

Multiplexes: Shared alignment with US-75 from I-129 in South Sioux City to Winnebago (15.94 miles); with US-275 from Winslow to north of Fremont (8.76 miles); with N-91 from Winslow to west of Fontanelle (4.55 miles); with N-92 from Mead to Wahoo (7.86 miles); with I-80 along the northwest and north side of Lincoln (8.47 miles); with N-41 for 1.5 miles south of Cortland

Multi-Lane Segments: South Sioux City to Dakota City; Winslow to Fremont; Ceresco to Beatrice

History and Notes: The US-77 designation was given in 1926, replacing old N-5 (from South Sioux City to Oakland) and old N-9 (Oakland to Kansas border). Prior to this, the named route was "Cornhusker Highway" south from Fremont, and part of the "George Washington National Highway" north from Fremont. The 1922 numbering system used N-13 from South Sioux City to Fremont, N-15 from Fremont to Lincoln, and N-14 from Lincoln to the Kansas border.

The alignment in Nebraska has been changed little over the years, except through Lincoln. There, US-77 once entered the north side of the city along current L55X, then shared an alignment with US-6 to 10th St. near downtown. US-77 then followed 10th St. (then 14th St. -- current L55W) out of town. The bypass on the west side of town (the "Salt Valley Roadway") was opened in 1988, and US-77 was realigned onto it in 1993.

Alignment 1: N-2 at Anselmo to N-2/N-92 at MernaAlignment 2: US-20 west of Brunswick to North Platte

History and Notes: Alignment 1 was in place by 1934, and was renumbered as N-180 in the early 1950's. By 1961, the segment from N-2 to Victoria Springs was recommissioned as N-302, and the north-south segment decommissioned. N-302 was changed to S21A by 1973.

The second version of N-80 was commissioned early in the 1950's. It was multiplexed with N-14 to Elgin, then went west to US-281, replacing N-53. From there, it went south to N-91, then west through Erickson before heading southeast to Ord. Continuing on, it replaced segments of N-58 and N-56 to Broken Bow. It was multiplexed with N-92 from Merna to southwest of Stapleton, before heading southwest via US-83 to North Platte. This route was renumbered as N-70 by 1961, presumably to avoid conflict with I-80.

History and Notes: I-80 generally followed the paths of 3 US routes: US-30 from the Colorado border to Grand Island, US-34 from Grand Island to Lincoln, and US-6 from Lincoln to Omaha; however, none of these routes have been decommissioned as a result.

The first completed segment of I-80 was a 6 mile stretch around Gretna, opened in 1959. I-80 from North Platte to the Iowa border was completed by 1969. October 19, 1974, the final segment near Sidney was opened; golden plates were embedded across both the eastbound and westbound lanes, with this part of the road known as the "Golden Link".

Historically, the Pony Express trail ran along the current I-80 routing from Sidney to east of Kearney. Other historical nearby trails include the Oregon Trail and the Mormon Trail, both generally between Sidney and Grand Island.

Multi-Lane Segments: Norfolk to N-64 junction south of Columbus; I-80 to Fairmont; Fillmore/Thayer county line to Kansas line

Intersecting Interstates: I-80 south of York

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with with N-98 for 2 miles, east of Pierce; with US-30 for 2 miles through Columbus; with N-92 from west of Osceola to east of Shelby (12.4 miles); with US-34 through York (1 mile); with N-41 for 1 mile through Geneva; with N-74 through Strang (0.26 mile); and with N-4 for 1 mile, south of Bruning.

History and Notes: Designated in 1926, replacing old N-4. Originally was known as the "Meridian Highway".

The US-81 alignment from Norfolk to the South Dakota border was originally further west. It followed current N-121 to Pierce, then N-13 into Norfolk. The current alignment through this area was put in place between 1950 and 1955.

Replacement of the US-81 Meridian Bridge over the Missouri River will begin in 2006, and should take about 3 years. The original bridge was built in 1924 for $1.1 million (approximately $11 million today), the last link in the Meridian Highway. It is a double-deck bridge, designed for trains on the lower deck and vehicles on the upper deck, with a lifting mechanism to allow for river traffic. The trains were never brought across the bridge, so it was switched to use southbound traffic on the lower deck, and northbound traffic on the upper deck. The lift mechanism was later removed. Originally a toll bridge to pay for construction, the tolls were lifted at the end of 1953. The old bridge will become a pedestrian trail.

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with US-20 for 5.15 miles east from Valentine; with N-2 through Thedford (1.2 miles); with N-92 south from Stapleton (4 miles); with US-30 in North Platte (0.7 mile); with N-23 north and south of Wellfleet (13.65 miles); and with US-6/34 through McCook (1.43 miles).

NHS: Entire route

Multi-Lane Segments: North Platte to south end of Lake Maloney

History and Notes: The original alignments of US-83 and US-183, when designated and built in the 1930's, were reversed. Initially, old US-83 was aligned as such:

South Dakota to Ansley along current US-183.

Ansley to Hazard along current N-2.

Hazard to Kearney along current N-10.

Kearney to Elm Creek multiplexed with current US-30.

Elm Creek to Kansas border along current US-183.

By 1947, the aligments had changed. The new and improved US-83 followed the current alignment: South Dakota to just east of Thedford (same as current alignment); Thedford to Mullen, multiplexed with N-2; Mullen to North Platte along the current N-97 (with a dirt stretch of road through most of Hooker County); then south along the current US-83 alignment.

The current alignment between Thedford and North Platte was in place by 1961.

In the numbering system from the mid 1920's, only the Gandy to McCook section was present, and numbered as N-20.

History and Notes: N-85 was divided into 3 segments in the early 1950's. Mainline N-85 went from US-6 at Melia to South Bend. N-85N divided off a couple miles south of US-6, and went east to Springfield. N-85S branched off at the Platte River, and went east to Meadow (N-50). All 3 segments were decommissioned by 1961; the mainline route was made part of N-31.

History and Notes: N-85 was divided into 3 segments in the early 1950's. Mainline N-85 went from US-6 at Melia to South Bend. N-85N divided off a couple miles south of US-6, and went east to Springfield. N-85S branched off at the Platte River, and went east to Meadow (N-50). All 3 segments were decommissioned by 1961; the mainline route was made part of N-31.

History and Notes: The original alignment of N-87, from around 1935, was once much longer. It extended from Hemingford west and south to Scottsbluff. Around 1964, when N-71 was implemented, the south end was pulled back to Hemingford, and is now designated as part of N-71.

In 2000, US-385 was extended south from N-87 onto a new alignment, meeting N-2 near Berea, and following that route to Alliance. At that time, N-87 was extended south to Alliance on the old N-87 alignment. What had been N-87 east from Hemingford became secondary highway L7E.

History and Notes: This route, dating back to at least 1934, originally had the east segment intersecting US-183 (which was US-83 at the time) north of Alma. In the early 1950, the east terminus was routed south from Orleans about 6 miles, then east to US-183. The old eastern terminus became part of US-136.

Multiplexes: Shared alignment with US-183 through Taylor (1.02 miles); with N-11 through Burwell (1.96 miles); with N-70 for 13.59 miles, from west of Ericson to US-281; with US-281 for 6 miles between Bartlett and Greeley; with N-14 through Albion (0.36 mile); with US-275 from north of Scribner to Nickerson (18.15 miles); and with US-77 from Winslow to west of Nickerson.

Multi-Lane Segments: Winslow to west of Fontanelle (along shared alignment with US-77 and US-275)

History and Notes: The original alignment, from around 1934, only extended from Blair to Newman Grove (current N-45). In the 1940's, the further extension west to Dunning was made, absorbing portions of N-32, N-53, and N-7.

Multiplexes: Shared alignment with US-26 from near Chimney Rock to Bridgeport (12.54 miles) and from Broadwater to Lewellen (42.33 miles); with US-385 for 8.13 miles southeast from Bridgeport; with N-61 from Lake McConaughy to Arthur (25.45 miles); with N-97 for 3.4 miles east from Tryon; with US-83 for 4 miles south from Stapleton; with N-2 from Merna to Ansley (26.3 miles); with US-183 through Ansley (0.3 mile); with N-58 through Loup City (2.97 miles); with US-281 for 2.38 miles south from St. Paul; with N-14 for 1 mile, north of Central City; with US-81 from 3 miles west of Osceola to 3 miles east of Shelby (12.35 miles total); with N-15 for 1.52 miles south of David City; with N-79 for 1.02 miles west of Weston; with US-77 from Wahoo to 1 mile west of Mead (total of 7.86 miles); with US-275 from 4 miles south of Waterloo to the Iowa border (19.71 miles).

Multi-Lane Segments: West edge of Omaha to 60th St. in Omaha

History and Notes: Designated around 1937, replacing N-16 from the mid 1920's numbering system. However, the original end of the route was in Central City, then extended to North Platte by 1940, entering the city via the current US-83. In the early 1950's, the route was extended west, and ended at Arthur. The next westward extension was made by 1964, to connect with WY-92 at Lyman to create a 4-state continuous highway 92 (Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois).

History and Notes: Designation in place by 1936, but decommissioned between 1955 and 1961. This particular alignment is currently unnumbered.

Alignment:US-183 near Horseshoe Bend Lake to Burwell (N-91), along the north shore of the Calamus Reservoir

Distance: 20.05 miles

History and Notes: A fairly recent addition to the Nebraska highway system, at least within the last 5 years. Matt Hopken tipped me off with the following message:

Nebraska State Route 96 is probably the newest road assignment in Nebraska. SR 96 replaces a county highway & game & parks road from approximently 2 miles west of the westbound intersection of the shared alignment of SR 91 and the southbound intersection of SR 11 approximently 1/2 miles southeast of Burwell, Nebraska. The road starts at the intersection of CR 9 and SR 91 southwest of Burwell, turns west at the northeast side of the airport on this map, goes by the north side of the Calumus Dam and follows along the north side of the dam and reservior.

History and Notes: The original N-97 (1936) was located about 30 miles west of Valentine, and connected US-20 to the Nebraska National Forest. The segment that was between Mullen and North Platte was known as US-183 at the time, then as US-83 by 1947. When this segment of US-83 was moved east onto the road south of Thedford, the old alignment also became part of N-97.

In the 1980's, an old (1930's) US-183 alignment from Valentine to Mullen was upgraded slowly and renumbered as an extension of N-97; the previous N-97 segment west of Valentine became secondary route S16F. This most recent segment goes 75 miles between towns (Valentine and Mullen).

History and Notes: N-98 was originally an "L"-shaped route, designated in the 1940's. It started at US-20 3 miles east of Osmond, then went south to Pierce before extending east to N-15 at Wayne. In the early 1950's, a realignment of US-81 to the east resulted in a northward extension of N-98 to the South Dakota border on the old US-81 alignment. This was changed between 1967 and 1971, when the entire north-south segment of N-98 was designated as part of N-121, and N-98 was truncated at Pierce. This configuration continues today.

Multiplexes: Shared alignment with N-8 for 4.63 miles between Burchard and Summerfield

History and Notes: The original routing of N-99 (dating back to the 1940's) went south from Pawnee City to the Kansas border. This was changed around 1964 to the current configuration, to match up with K-99.